Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-26

and the poll-tax at sixty cents. These
are reductions from the Finance Com
mittee's figures of three cents and nine
cents, respectively. IL is thought pro-
babe that the Senate, when it takes up
the Till, will restore the figures to TWEEN
ty-three and sixty-nine cents, as they
were.
NO NEW COUNTIES.
The House last night, by vote of
81 to 10, defeated the bill to create the
county of Ellington out of parts OF
Rowan and Iredell.
The House also defeated the bill to
create the county of Badger.
THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.
Mr.. Pritchard, chairman OF the
House branch OF the Committee on
Railway Commission, says that he does
not think any bill to create commits
sion can possibly pass the House. This
appears to settle the matter. He says
it has been shown before the committee
that in all cases where the railways have
done an act Of injustice they have
promptly repaired It upon complaint.
he says it has been shown that the
rates in this State without commission
are cheaper than in Georgia with one.
INSANE AsYLUMs.
The special order in the Senate to-
day was the bill making provision for
insane asylums. 1t appropriates sj6,-
COO yearly for the asylum at Raleigh,
and S3S, 600 yearly for the next four
wears for the construction of two wings
to the same, SO as to double its ca
pacity appropriates $4,000 for the
next fiscal wear to the asylum at Nor
canton, and $50, 600 for the year after.
Attempts were made TO strike out that
part of the bill making an apprOpria-
ton for wings for the Raleigh asylum,
but all failed.
The amendment to strike out the
section of the bill granting fifty con-
victs to construct the road from Nor
canton Depot to the asylum did prevail.
The bill passed its second and third
readings. The House adopted reso-
luton providing for daily sessions of
ten hours on and after next Monday.
Mr.. Mcmillan moved a reconsidera-
ton of the resolution adopted Wednes-
day night instncting the Attorney
General to bring suits against certain
railways for failure to make reports to
the State Treasurer since 1871 as re-
Guired by law. The motion to recon-
slder was tabled by vote of 63 to %.
A bill providing that in cases of sus-
pected poisoning two competent physi-
clans shall examine the stomach, &C.,
and only upon their judgment shall
these be sent to the State chemist,
failed to pass-40 to a.
AGMCULU'RE.
The agricultural bill was taken up as
the special order. Mr.. Fries, chairman
of the Agricultural Committee, spoke
at length and ably iii favor of the bill,
and explained the work of the Depart
ment of Agriculture in all its branches.
The bill provides for the appropriation
of SGT, 800 for next year and S25,O for
1ssS-'S9. All of the sum derived from
the tax on fertilizers in excess of this APP
preparation is to be applied to the State
Agricultural and Mechanical College.
An amendment to make the master of
the State Grange an cr-OticiO member
of the Board of Agriculture caused
considerable debate, but was adopted
by a vote Of 81 to 43. An amend
ment was adopted providing that the
BOARD shall meet only four times year.
An amendment introduced by a Re
publican, to reduce the appropriation
to so, coo, was ,ost-ayes, 80; noes, go.
IN amendment was introduced by
Saunders Republican) that the remain
dersof the fund arising from the sale of
fertilizers in excess OF the amount ap-
propriated be not applied to the Agri-
cultural College, but diverted into the
general fund.
Fries said the amendment was not
constitutional The amendment was
lost. The bill as passed is exactly as
the farmers expressed desire to have
it. The sum of 81, 500 of the first years
appropriation is specially for the com
pletion of the oyster survey.
Your correspondent learned to-day
that the Senate, after the passage of the
bill so largely increasing the appropria-
ton to the insane asylum, is likely to
increase the tax-levy to % cents on the
SlO0 valuation of property and poll-tax
to 70 cents. There is sure to be a great
debate and fight in the Senate over this
matter.